TITLE:
Investigation on the Potential Production of Diesel from Waste Tires
AUTHORS:
Stanford Mudono, Nicholas Jim, Jean Tsitsi Chigova
KEYWORDS:
Density, Pyrolysis, Residence Time, Diesel, Flash Point, Kinematic Viscosity
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Power and Energy Engineering,
Vol.10 No.10,
October
24,
2022
ABSTRACT: An alternative fuel production was performed by
catalytic-pyrolysis of waste tires under a nitrogen (N2) environment and with a zeolite catalyst. Pyrolysis of scrap tires has been
pointed out as an alternative to the incorrect disposal of tire wastes.
Pyrolysis processes can produce tire-derived oils that may be used as fuel or
added to conventional fuels, producing fuel blends with improved properties and
reduced cost. The pyrolysis process can contribute to removing tire residues from inadequate sites and it can be a sustainable
process to produce alternative fuels. The project investigated the conversion
of the waste tires into diesel as one way of waste management and also as a
viable process which in turn helps to meet the fuel demand. Uses of the diesel
and the by-products from the process were also outlined. Experiments were conducted
on the pyrolysis process in order to find the optimum conditions for producing the diesel through pyrolysis; the temperature and residence time were optimized in
order to get maximum output from the process. The optimum temperature of the
reaction was found to be 520˚C and the
optimum residence time was 92.5 minutes. Quality tests of the product were then conducted on
the obtained product and most of the properties were found to meet the required
standard specifications. The most critical properties which are density, final
boiling point, flash point and kinematic viscosity, were found to be 0.8495 g/cm3, 370˚C, 50.5˚C and 3.681
cSt, respectively, and they were within the required specifications. Quality analysis showed that a quality product that is suitable for automobiles could be obtained from the process. The process also
produces useful by-products such as char, which can aid in the purification process of the
diesel after conversion to activated carbon. The process is environmentally
friendly if the appropriate pollution prevention methods like gas absorption
are thoroughly implemented. Waste tires are an alternative source of diesel and
hence the feasibility of implementing the project on a large scale.